Celebrating Melting Pot Families

By MARIE EKBERG PADILLA
COLUMNIST

Angela Williams hopes to bring melting pot families together by celebrating diversity.

The Ladera stay-at-home mom, whose family is multiracial, has launched a new group called The Melting Pot Moms. "I hope it will bring families together in an enriching way," she said. "As blended families, we share a unique set of experiences. This group provides an open and accepting environment where we can share and learn from one another."

So far, the group, which is open to families across the county, has about 30 members. Our multicultural family is one of them. Williams said, "I think society at large can learn a lot from the way multicultural families are able to incorporate the traditions and values of different cultures into one harmonious and loving environment for their children."

The Williams family is a mix of American and African-American. Angela said she is of Norwegian, Mexican, German and Italian descent. Her husband Jerry is black and their two sons – Jaden, 3 and Austin, 22 months – are a beautiful blend of both parents. Angela said her family's multiracial experience has been mostly positive. "That's not to say we haven't experienced racism, directed mostly at my husband and one time overtly at us as a couple," she said. Jaden has also noticed the difference in his family members' skin tones. "To him it is purely a visual matter, and he likes that he is 'tan,'" she said. "Our nickname for him is 'Honey-Man' and it makes him smile."

Angela said the family speaks English at home and doesn't celebrate any international traditions yet. But one mission with the Melting Pot Moms group is to learn about different cultures and learn to appreciate others' ethnicities, she added.

So far, group members represent the following ethnicities: Japanese, Swedish, Chinese, French, Egyptian, German, Mexican, African-American, Persian, Filipino and Indian. "Everyone can feel welcomed," Angela said. "In coming together, we can create an educational and nurturing environment that will help our children establish a strong sense of identity and pride."

The group will host a meet-and-greet between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 23 in Ladera.

Upcoming events include an International Potluck, a Melting Pot Music Party and a Mom's Night Out. You can join the club at Melting Pot Moms Meetup.